Jonah Anton is from Pepik Village, Kudjip LLG, Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, graduating in 2013. Following graduation, he joined the Papua New Guinea National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) as a Junior Research Scientist, where he specialised in improving crop production in highland agro-ecological zones, with a focus on Irish potato, sweet potato, and wheat. Over nearly a decade at NARI, he established multiple nationally and internationally funded research projects and published findings in conference proceedings and scientific journals. He is now pursuing a Master of Philosophy at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, partially supported by the EU-FCCB Scholarship Programme.

His research, “Exploring the Diversity of Marita (Pandanus conoideus) in Various Agro-Ecological Zones in the Highlands and Momase Regions in Papua New Guinea Based on Morphological Characteristics and Physico-Chemical Properties,” focuses on an indigenous crop of significant cultural, nutritional, and ecological value. Marita is deeply embedded in the cultural practices of Highlands communities — used in bride price ceremonies, barter systems, and as a special gift — and its oil is rich in antioxidants, including tocopherol, carotene, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The crop also plays a role in climate resilience and is cultivated on unused lands, functioning as a carbon sink. Despite this significance, research on Marita remains limited. Jonah’s study — funded by both the EU-FCCB and UNITECH Research funds — aims to generate foundational information that will underpin future research and development of this high-value crop in Papua New Guinea.